Method and apparatus for extinguishing fires



1,611,730 F.-A. EPPS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIR S Original Filed Feb. '7, 1921 5' Sheets-Sht 1 F. A. EPPS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES Dec. 21 1926 Original Filed Feb. 7 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mbeulfoz Frank/42 Z;

Dec. 21 1926.

F. A. EPPS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES Origihal Filed Feb '2. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I, I Svwemtoz Fran/(flfipps. $33-1 ki/s 34101441211 M1 (AA 64,0

Dec. 21 1926. 9 1,611,730

F. A. EPPS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES Original Filed Feb. '7. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 T0 Tuinmasnrs gwvmtoz iv/7270.19. Zpps, @551 a btomu s necuzl, 1926. Q 1,611,730

' F. A. EPPS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISH ING FIRES Original Filed Feb. 7, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 21, i926.

earns are FRANK A. EPPS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR "ISO FOAMITE-GHILDS CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A COEPORATIGN OF DELAWARE.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISI-IING FIRES.

Application filed My invention relates to a method of and apparatus for producing and discharging fire extinguishing foam in which chemically developed by contact of foam-making solutions is utilized to place said solutions under discharging pressure, and it may be re garded in one aspect as an in'iprovement or development of the patent to Erwin and Flory, No. 1,331,466, granted February 1?, 1920, Reissue No. 15,355, May 16, 1922, in which mutually reactive solutions (respectively acid and basic) are normally kept separated in different containers from which they may be permitted to pass by gravity into contact in a mixing chamber from which gas under pressure thus generated therein is delivered to the respective solution containers, the solutions in which are thereby placed under discharging pressure and conveyed through solution delivery lines from the respective containers to a mixing device and discharge device. From this point of view my improvement consists in using extraneous force other than gravity, though by this language I do not mean to exclude gravity as one of the forces which may play a part in the operation, to bring the mutually reactive solutions into contact for producing the discharging pressure, the solutions being brought into contact by taking a portion of one of the solutions from its container and forcing it into contact with the other solution, or by taking portions of both solutions from their containers and forcing them into contact in a mixing chamber, the resulting gas in either case furnishing discharging pressure for both solutions. compactness is secured by the avoidance of considerable, or if desired, of any head between the solution tanks and mixing chamber, such as is necessary with an exclusively gravity feed in order to drive the solutions through the solution lines which may be long and to deliver them to the mixing device at a relatively high pressure to insure a long range of foam stream. lVhile increase in discharging pressure as compared with increase in head has been found to be disproportionately great, a few feet increase in head giving a pressure increase of from twenty to eighty pounds and an extension of foam range of from ten to forty feet, ability to get still better results without any head at all, or with but a slight head, is a marked advantage, particularly in apparatus required to February 7, 1921, Serial No. 442.987.

Renewed June 6, 1925.

be readily portable. It has been found that the function of the moderate solution head may be supplied by a low power pump. More positive action is also insured with exact control and sureness of operation attained through avoidance of valves likely to corrode especially in the acid solution pipes.

It is characteristic of my invention that the rate of delivery of solution by the pump or pumps may be definitely controlled and varied by altering the pump speed and that the delivery ratio for the respective solutions may be fixed in advance, in accordance with the nature of the particular solutions employed, at unity or otherwise. It is thus true that the apparatus may be arranged in accordance with the generally prcvailing foreseen conditions, yet with capability of manual variation in operation in accordance with pressure gauge and other current indications, so as to meet varying conditions, arising from time to time, as to length of delivery lines, foam stream, nozzle pressure required, etc. My invention may be otherwise embodied than in the apparatus illustrated. Additional advantages will more fully appear in the following specification.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is an elevation of the apparatus mounted on a'wheeled truck, with parts in section and parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of a modification also mounted on a wheeled truck;

Figure 3 is an elevation showing the application of my invention to chemical fire department motor driven trucks and illustrating the manner in which the present chemical tanks, usually carried as part of the tank equipment, may be converted into a foam generating system embodying my invention.

Figure 4 is an elevation of another modifi cation embodied in a two-solution foam generating sprinkler installation employing a valveless dry pipe system in a plant in which economy of space is essential, automatic control from a point adjacent the fire being indicated; and

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of another modification in which the auxiliar mixing takes place in one of the solution tanks.

Referring to Figure l, the main tank 5 is .subdividml by partition 6 into tanks 7 till I respectively the -x or acid,

the l or ba:. solutions, whose compo sition may be as disclosed in the patent to \Valker, No. 1,186,228, dated June 6, 191.6. The tank is prete 'ably mounted on the wheeled truck 9, representing a tool box and 11 the hose box. Each solutioi tank has a charging inlet 12 and a discharge or flushing outlet 13. Solution delivery lines ll, 15 connected respectively at one end to pipe sections 16, 17, which extend into and terminate adjarent the bottoms of tanks 7 and 8 respectively, are reeled in the term of a twin hose line 18, the delivery ends oi which are connected to a Siam nixer it), the mixing of the solutions and toani taking place in section 20, terminating in the nozzle 21., control valves and 3% being preterably provided in the solution lines in the Sianiese delivery system.

()peratii'ig pressure on the solution levels in the chambers T and 8 supplied in the form of my apparatus as tlollows: .l. provir 1 an auxiliary mixing chamber connected to the tank 7 by pipes 25, 2. and to the tank 8 by pipes it), 28, pipes 27 and 28 respectively, entering the respective tan {S i' and S and terminating adj a. ent the bottoms thereof in preferably bell mouth solution inlets and 30. The mixing chamber 2% is connected by foam pipe 31 to piping 32, 33, 34, 35 which places the tanks 7 and 8 in permanent conimuni cation. The solutions in the tanks may be conducted at will through the pipes :5 and 26 and into the mixing chamber ii for contact therein to generat a pressure iloam, which rising through the team pipe 31, as indicated by the arrows, is led back through piping 32, 34, 35 to both the tanks, en-

and 5. contaii ing tering them preferably at the top, as also in dicated by the arrows. Tue team thus generated and led into the solution tanks performs in time of tire, the double itunction ot equalizing the back pressure exerted in the i-(nnmunieating lines and by the learn in the mixing chamber 24, this equalization taking place by the pressure transmitted to the bell mouth inlet." 29 and 3t), and providing a discharging pressure to drive the solutions in the solution tanks throiiigh the solution lines 14 and 15 and the twin hose section 18 to the delivery and mixing station located remote from the generating system.

For compactness, certainty and case (it control, and for readily producing high discharging pressure in the tanks, I provide forcing means bringing into play extraneous tori-e other than gravity, although gravity may also be a factor in the operation ot etl'ccting contact of the solutions. Such means are preferably located in the con'imunications between the solution tanks and the mixing chamber 24, and take the Form, in my present invention, of low power puuuis 36 and 357, one let each solution, loi ated respectively in the coluniunicating means bctween each solution tank and the mixing chamber, these p nnps being geared together for simultaneous action, by mains of sprocket wheels and sn'ocket chain 35), a :rank handle alt) being ronneoted to one oi t sprockets for manual operation of the p imps. lly turning the handle 40 portions of the acid and basic solution." will be forced troru the solution tank into the nixing chamber ill, the pumps providing just sulli t pressure to 'torcib y eject the solutions under mode -ate pressure from the connnnr icz ting pipes 2:. and 236 into the mixing chamber 2 where they are couipcllei'l to come into intimate contact thereljiy produ-- ing the pressure loam. The operator, in turning the handle it), may be guided by the pre lure gauge -Itl in detc'mining the speed of rotation ol' the handle it) necessary to provide the desired t'lis harging pressure. it has been tound that with this type ol' svsl'ein a we mall l'l'lGSSllltl supplied by the psi 36 and I")? sullicient to provide forcible Exture of the solutions in the mixing r 2i will result in the obtaining of a "duel will exert a relatively high disg pressure on the solutions in the 7 and owing to the expansion of the into team, the expansion being atmospheric pressure.

. the. mixing chamber, and the pumps may, run ed and located as 'alvcw troiu the systen'i, such an rangeinent re: tiring dry piping sys em and by the elimination of valves rendering the to the communicating lines 25 and :onouction into the mixing than her 2- .llelcrring to l igure 2, the tank 5 is also i wn mounted on a wheeled truck fl. this the solutions in the solution tanks fit for tank being subdivnled by a partition 6 into solution tanks 4" and 8 of une: nal capacitv prcicr: in the ratio of three to one, tor the purpose of utilization of acid and basic solutions ot dillercnt (onmositions requin no; use in ditlcrent proportioint. The auxliar} mixing chamber 24-. here shown as loeated above the tank 5' instead (it bclinv the said tank. the tommuuicating pipes 25 and E26 connecting the mixing chamber with the solution cluunbers, pnuuis b6 and l arranged in the line at connnunicaar to that shown in Figure l. The oil. imWOYT, is so arranged as to pro. o :2 three to one iaifo in order to teed one part of the solution from chamber 7 to three parts of the B solution from chamber 8 into the mixing chamber 24: The solution lines let and 15 and the twin hose section 18 and Siamese delivery system 19 are othe wise similar to the form shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Referring to Figure 3, my invention contemplates the conversion of the present type of fire department, soda and acid tank system, usually mounted upon combination chemical motor driven trucks, into a foam generating system. The two tanks 42 and 43 are located as shown in the drawings in the space between the seat 4% and the hose box 4-5, solution lines 46 and 47 being connected to the tanks and to the twin hose line 4-8, which, in turn, is connected to the Siamese delivery system 49. The means for generating the foam pressure comprises a mixing chamber 50 comn'iunicating with the solution tanks by means of the pipe sections 51 and 52, pumps 53 and 54: being located in the lines of communication 51 and 52 and being geared in equal ratio to feed equal quantities of the solutions in the tanks to the auxiliary mixing chamber 50, the pumps being controlled by crank handle 55. foam generated in the mixing chamber being led to the pipe sections 56 and 57 back to the solution tanks 42 and 4.3 for exertIng the necessary operating pressure on the solutions therein.

Referring to Figure 4, the tank 58 is stationary, the arrangement being otherwise, and save for the delivery system, similar to that of Figure 3. The apparatus comprises a mixing chamber 50 located above the tank 58 and having the pumps 53 and 54 connected in the lines 51' and 52, which form the communicating means between the mixer 50 and the solution chambers in the tank 58, the foam pipe sections 56 and 57 being here also provides and connecting the mixer 50 with the top of the solution tank. The delivery system shown in Figure 4 is of the sprinkler type, having solution lines 60 and 61 connecting the sprinkler 59 or a series of such sprinklers to the solution chambers in the tank 58. This form of my invention also contemplates the motor operation of the pumps 53 and 54. and the automatic control of such motor operation, a motor 62, which may be mounted on the tank 58, being operatively connected to the pumps as shown, the leads from said motor being connected to power lines (53 and 64. through the interposed switch 65. 66. This switch is controlled by a solenoid 67 whose circuit is dominated by thermostats not shown). In the eventof fire the thermostat affected will close the circuit. The solenoid will attract its armature 65 against the contact 66, thus completing the power circuit to the motor for the simultaneous actuation of the pumps 53' and 54'.

Referring to Figure 5, the stationary tank 68 is divided by partition 71 into A (acid) chamber 69 and B (basic) chamber 70, from which lead respectively solution lines 72, 73,

having portions 7 1: and 75 entering the respective chambers and terminating adjacent the bottoms thereof; it being understood that the lines 72, 73 may be connected to any type of solution mixing and foam delivery system, such, for example, as shown in the other figures. Instead of employing an auxiliary mixing chamber distinct from the solution chambers, as in the other figures, the mixing of the solutions may be made to .take place in one of the solution chambers, preferably the basic chamber 7(. in such a modification also a pump is employed to drive one of the solutions from one of the chambers into the other for mixture therein with the other solution. The pump 7b, which may be hand or power, but is shown as having a hand crank 77, is in counnunica tion by pipe sections 78 and 79 with the acid chamber (5!) and by pipe sections 80, 81 and 82 with the basic chamber 70, pipe section 82 being preferably provided with a plurality of feed apertures to insure rapid and widely ext-ended contact and mixture of the solutions on operation of the pump. The pump 76 is preferably located below the level of the solution in the acid chamber 69 so that normally both the pump and part of the pipe section are filled with acid solution and necessity of priming the pump thus avoided. In this form of the device also a pressure equalizing pipe 88 connects the solution chambers 69 and 7 0, this equalizing system being provided for conducting the pressure foam generated in the chamber 70 to the acid chamber 69. The pressure foam in the acid chamber 68') also performs the dual function of equalizing the back pressure exerted on the pump 76 and of pro ducing operating pressure on the acid solution in the chamber (59 to drive the said solution through the solution line 72. Likcw'se the foam pressure in the chamber 70 functions to drive the basic solution in the said chamber through the solution lines 73 for mixture at a remote mixing chamber with the solution in the solution lines 7 2 for the production of the tire extinguishing foam ejected from a delivery system, i

The foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention. while these are of course by no means exhaustive, has brought out special novel advantages inherent in it and has made clear the operation so that recapitulation is thought unnecessary.

Claims:

1. The method of producing and discharging a fire extinguishing foam which consists in discharging foam-making solutions from the containers thereof by taking a portion of the solution from onev of said containers and forcing the same into contact with the solution of the other container by extraneous force other than gravity, there by chemically developing a relatively high pressure gas, and utilizing such gas on the liquid surfaces in both said containers to produce discharge of said solutions, conducting said discharged solutions to a mixing device and discharge device.

2. The method of producing and discharging a fire extinguishing foam which consists in discharging foam-making solutions. from the containers thereof by taking portions of the solutions from both of said containers and forcing the same into contact with each other in a mixing chamber by extraneous force other than gravity thereby chemically developing a relatively high pressure gas, and utilizing such gas on the liquid surfaces in both said containers to produce discharge of said solutions, conducting said discharged solutions to a mixing device and discharge device.

The method of producing and discharging a fire extinguishing foam which consists in discharging foam-making solutions from the containers thereof by pumping portions of one solution from its container into contact with the solution of the other container thereby chemically developing a relatively high pressure gas, and utilizing such gas on the liquide surfaces in both said containers to produce discharge of said solutions, conducting said discharged solutions by separate solution delivery lines from the respective containers to a mixing device and dischar e device.

4. The method of producing and discharging a fire extinguishing foam which consists in discharging foam-making solutions from the containers thereof by pumping portions of both solutions from their respective containers into contact with each other in a mixing chamber, thereby chemically developing a relatively high pressure gas, and

utilizing such gas on the liquid surfaces inv both said containers to produce discharge of said solution, conducting said discharged solutions by separate solution delivery lines from the respective-containers to a mixing device and discharge device.

The method of placing mutually reactive foam-making solutions under discharging pressure which consists in pumping foam-making solutions from the respective containers thereof in a predetermined ratio and forcing them into contact in a mixing chamber, thereby chemically developing a relatively high pressure gas, and conducting the same to the said containers to place the solutions therein under discharging pressure.

6. Fire extinguishing apparatus comprising separate containers for mutually reactive foam-making solutions, means for progas, conducting means for permitting the gas 7 so produced to operate on the surfaces of the liquids in each container, a solution rnixing device and 'l'ioam-discharge device and soiution delivery lines leading from the respective containers to said solution mixing device and foam-discharge device, whereby said gas pressure is made effective to deliver the solutions and discharge the foam.

8. Fire extinguishing apparatus comprising containers in which mutually reactive foam-making solutions are normally kept separate, a mixing chamber, connections for placing the interior of each of said containers in communication with said mixing chamber, and pumps in said respective connections for forcing solutions from said containers to the mixing chamber, additional means of communication between said mixing chamber and both of said containers for conducting thereto gas generated by contact of the solutions in said chamber, and a solution delivery line from each of said containers to a mixing space in which foam is formed and from which it is discharged.

9. A the extinguishing apparatus comprising solution containers for holding mutually reactive foam-forming solutions, solution lines connected to said containers, a mixing chamber communicating with the solution containers, means for pumping the solutions from the containers to the mixing chamber for forcible mixture of the solutions therein to produce a relatively high pressure foam, and means for conducting said foam back to the containers to exert a relatively high operating pressure on the solution surfaces therein to drive the solutions through the solution lines.

10. A fire extinguishing apparatus comprising solution containers for respectively holding mutually reactive foam-making solutions, solution delivery lines connected respectively to said containers, a mixing chamber, separate means connecting each of the containers with the mixing chamber,

said means comprising a dry pipe system, a

pump in each of the connecting means operatlve to drive the solutions from the contamers to the mixing chamber into forcible contact therein to produce a relatively high pressure foam, and means for conducting said foam back to the containers to exert a relatively high operating pressure on the solutions therein to drive the solutions through the solution lines.

11. A fire extinguishing apparatus comprising solution containers for respectively holding mutually reactive foam-making solutions, solution delivery lines connected respectively to said containers, a mixing chamber, separate means connecting each of the containers With the mixing chamber, a low pressure pump in each of the connecting means operative to drive the solutions from the containers to the mixing chamber for forcible mixture therein to produce a relatively high pressure foam, means for conducting said foam back to the containers to exert a relatively high operating pres sure on the solutions therein to drive the solutions through the solution lines, and means for simultaneously operating said pumps at a definite speed ratio.

12. A fire extinguishing apparatus comprising solution containers for respectively holding mutually reactive foam-making solutions, solution delivery lines connected to said containers, a mixing chamber, separate means connecting each of the containers With the mixing chamber, a pump in each of the connecting means operative to drive the solutions from the containers to the mixing chamber for forcible mixture therein to produce a relatively high pressure foam, means for conducting said foam back to the containers to exert a relatively high operating pressure on the solutions therein to drive the solutions through the solution delivery lines, and means for simultaneously operating said pumps, said last named means including a temperature controlled motor.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 3rd day of February A. D. 1921.

FRANK A. EPPS. 

